Books focusing on Africa!

Just like India, the perception of African countries is fairly tilted outside the continent. These books could keep the concept straight for the young people from the beginning. 

Picture books for Toddlers

1. TINGA TINGA Tales - Tinga Tinga Tales series, inspired by traditional animals stories from Africa. The brightly coloured, vibrant illustrations are inspired by the Tinga tinga artwork of Tanzania. These books are are now also available as lady bird versions - Level 1

Author : 

      a. Why Elephants have a Trunk

There was a time when Elephant had no nose. He was big, clumsy and very, very smelly and always covered in flies because his nose was too small to wash himself with. He was miserable. Find out how elephants got their trunks in the book.

• The lady bird version of the book is available online here. 
• Booktime.org.uk has also made this book digitally animated and read aloud and is available here

b.Why Giraffe Has a Long Neck

You see, there was a time when Giraffe didn't have a long neck. She had short legs, short horns and a very short, stumpy neck. She was also a very fussy eater . . . So what do you think happened when she tried to get some honey from deep inside the tree?

Brilliantly colourful Tingatinga artwork tells the story of Giraffe's transformation from a stumpy necked beast with short legs into her elegant Tinga Tinga persona. 

The ladybird version of the book is available online in India Here

c. Why Lion Roarrrs!

There was a time when Lion didn't roar like a king. You could say that Lion had no roar. Crocodile won’t share the waterhole with any of the other animals, so they go to complain to Lion, the King of Tinga Tinga, to ask him to let them use it. But Lion has lost his roar and Crocodile won’t listen to him, so he asks his friend Flea to help him. A fun story about how the lion gets his roar back.

The book is available online in India here

      d. Why Monkeys swing

      You see there was a time when Monkeys didn't swing in the trees. They used to stay on the ground and play . . . And they loved to wind Crocodile up! Join the mischievous Monkeys for a gloriously colourful adventure through Tinga Tinga, and find out what happens when Crocodile gets cross and goes SNAP!

      The book is available here

       e. Why Chameleon changes color

You see, there was a time when Chameleon wasn't bright and colourful. In fact he was dull and grey. But one day he dipped his foot into a rainbow and - POW! - suddenly he could be any colour he wanted!

Brilliantly colourful Tingatinga artwork tells the story of Chameleon's transformation from a nondescript, colourless creature into his vibrant Tinga Tinga persona. Featuring the colourful cast of Tinga Tinga Tales animals and glorious Tingatinga-inspired artwork. Available online in India here

The books undoubtedly are classics and are highly recommended for kids worldover. If you are a digital person then there is an app launched by Tinga Tinga as well. More information Here 

Tickets for 3-5 years olds

1.   I lost my tooth in Africa

Focus Area: - Mali

Author : Penda Diakite 

Illustrator : Baba Wague-Diakite 

Pages : 32 Pages

Goodreads Rating : 3.87

Amazon Rating : 5 stars

Age Recommendations: 3+

Description of the book:

Coretta Scott King Honor author/artist Baba Wague Diakite and his 12-year-old daughter, Penda, create a charming, original adventure story about losing a first tooth while visiting family in Mali. More than anything, Amina wants to lose her loose tooth while visiting her family in Mali, West Africa. Only then can she put it under a gourd for the African tooth fairy, who will exchange it for two chickens! Happily this happens, and even better, the chickens lay eggs. But will the eggs hatch before it's time to return home to America? In this fresh, spontaneous story that is infused with close family warmth, Penda June Diakite joins forces with her award-winning author/artist father to give a charming peek at everyday life in Mali.

2.  My painted house, my friendly chicken and me

Focus Area: - Ndebele Tribe in South Africa

Author :Maya Angelou

Photographer : Margaret Courtney-Clarke

Pages : 32 Pages

Goodreads Rating : 4.23

Amazon Rating : Not rated

Age Recommendations: 3+

Buy Online Here

Description of the book:

Full color photographs. "Hello, Stranger-Friend" begins Maya Angelou's story about Thandi, a South African Ndebele girl, her mischievous brother, her beloved chicken, and the astonishing mural art produced by the women of her tribe.  With never-before-seen photographs of the very private Ndebele women and their paintings, this unique book shows the passing of traditions from parent to child and introduces young readers to a new culture through a new friend.

3. Galimoto

Author :Karen Lynn Williams

Illustrator:  Catherine Stock 

Pages : 32 pages

Goodreads Rating : 3.93

Amazon Rating : Not rated

Age Recommendations: 4 - 7

Buy online here

Description of the Book: 

Kondi is determined to make a galimoto -- a toy vehicle made of wires. His brother laughs at the idea, but all day Kondi goes about gathering up the wire he needs. By nightfall, his wonderful galimoto is ready for the village children to play with in the light of the moon.

4. My Fathers Shop

Focus Area: - Morocco, Moroccan Carpets, North Africa

Author : Satomi Ichikawa

Illustrator : Satomi Ichikawa

Pages : 32 pages

Goodreads Rating : 3.90

Amazon Rating : 

Age Recommendations: 4-7

Buy online in India here

Description of the book: There is a rug in his fathers shop that Mustafa loves. (It has a hole in it, so you can put it over your head and still see out.) No one else wants the rug, though lots of tourists visit the shop. His father always welcomes them"Bienvenue"and offers them tea"O cha wa ikaga desu ka?" Mustafas father would like him to know some words in other languages too, and he tells Mustafa that he may have the rug if he agrees to learn. But after the first lesson, Mustafa is so bored he runs out of the shop (with the carpet on his head). Ending up at the market, he finds a very different way of learning foreign languages....and of getting tourists to visit his fathers shop.

5. Mama Panya's Pancakes: A Village Tale from Kenya

Focus Area: - Kenyan Village life, East Africa

Author :  Mary Chamberlin,  Richard Chamberlin

Illustrator : Julia Cairns

Pages : 40

Goodreads Rating : 4.23

Amazon Rating : 5 stars

Age Recommendations: 3+

Buy online in India here

Description of the book : Mama Panya is alarmed at the market when her son Adika invites all of their friends to come over for pancakes. However will she feed them all? This clever and heart-warming story about village life teaches children the benefits of sharing as well as introducing simple Swahili phrases.

Tickets for 6-9 years olds

1. We All Went on Safari: A Counting Journey Through Tanzania

Focus Area: - Tanzania, Masaai Tribe

Author :  Laurie Krebs

Illustrator : Julia Cairns

Pages : 29

Goodreads Rating : 4.23

Amazon Rating : 5 stars

Age Recommendations: 5-8 years

Buy online in India here

"HIGHLY RECOMMENDED" 

Description of the Book: Join Arusha, Mosi, Tumpe and their Maasai friends as they set out on a counting journey through the grasslands of Tanzania. Along the way, the children encounter all sorts of animals including elephants, lions and monkeys, while counting from one to ten in both English and Swahili. The lively, rhyming text is accompanied by an illustrated guide to counting in Swahili, a map, notes about each of the animals, and interesting facts about Tanzania and the Maasai people.

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